Leadership means adopting a “yes, I can!” approach. Provide opportunities for your child to try things for himself; to experience an appropriate level of challenge and to receive positive feedback for his effort.

In preschool, children are given activities where they are encouraged to make choices (choose the colours and materials to express their ideas), given challenges (building a tall tower with plasticine and sticks) or opportunities to explore and discover (working with magnets, exploring what floats and sinks).

These activities encourage active participation in learning, provide opportunities for positive encouragement, and contribute to the “I can” belief.

Overcoming challenges, being able to “bounce back” from disappointment and being open to trying a different approach are important areas that leaders should develop.

Modelling how you fix mistakes (and the fact that you make them), acknowledging feelings, encouraging your kid to ask questions and asking him to think and express his ideas are good ways you can work on enabling this.

Being committed to something and taking ownership are qualities of a leader. Give him simple things to do, for example, helping with some of the household chores, tidying up toys, helping to water the plants, and so on.

Whether or not he becomes a great leader, helping your little one develop the areas mentioned above is important to help him fulfil his potential.

As dancer and artist Stacia Tauscher put it: “We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.”

Leadership is a practical and valuable skill that can help your child go far later in life. It’s good to start young, but how can you go about teaching your preschooler about the life skill?
Fiona McDonald, head of learning support and training, at Chiltern House Preschool shares four tips.
Good leaders are good communicators
This doesn’t mean they only talk; good leaders also listen.
Provide him with opportunities – engage in conversation, be open to sharing about feelings, share books and discuss the stories, explore and discover together.
Related: How to improve communication with your child
Develop a positive belief
Leadership means adopting a “yes, I can!” approach. Provide opportunities for your child to try things for himself; to experience an appropriate level of challenge and to receive positive feedback for his effort.
In preschool, children are given activities where they are encouraged to make choices (choose the colours and materials to express their ideas), given challenges (building a tall tower with plasticine and sticks) or opportunities to explore and discover (working with magnets, exploring what floats and sinks).
These activities encourage active participation in learning, provide opportunities for positive encouragement, and contribute to the “I can” belief.
Related: Is your child an introvert or extrovert?
Develop resilience
Overcoming challenges, being able to “bounce back” from disappointment and being open to trying a different approach are important areas that leaders should develop.
Modelling how you fix mistakes (and the fact that you make them), acknowledging feelings, encouraging your kid to ask questions and asking him to think and express his ideas are good ways you can work on enabling this.
Related: 3 parenting and education tips from Tiger Mom Amy Chua
Develop a sense of responsibility
Being committed to something and taking ownership are qualities of a leader. Give him simple things to do, for example, helping with some of the household chores, tidying up toys, helping to water the plants, and so on.
Whether or not he becomes a great leader, helping your little one develop the areas mentioned above is important to help him fulfil his potential.
As dancer and artist Stacia Tauscher put it: “We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.”
(Photos: 123RF.com)